There's a chance you could be driving past a cell phone tower every day and not know it, because some of these behemoth structures of technology are disguised to resemble surrounding trees.

It's a fascinating attempt to hide the human effect on nature that started 21 years ago in Denver, according to Wired. While it seems inventive to conceal a large cell tower in a natural environment like the Mile High City, it's also pricey -- the report also states that the "fake tree" look for a cell tower could cost as much as $150,000.

Our need for widespread cell phone reception requires more and more cell towers to be erected. Then, when they're sitting in plain sight, 300 feet tall and a silvery hue that glows on sunny days, we complain that they're an eyesore. As you can see in the photos above, some of the towers take on a nearly identical look to surrounding trees while others are so poorly concealed that they probably should have just been left undressed.

One thing seems clear about these eyesores-turned-tree-imitators: The idea of disguising cell towers is catching on worldwide. According to a FastCoExist article, these towers have been seen in South Africa, Portugal, Italy and other places, so the idea that was born in America appears to be blossoming elsewhere.

Why is this news? We've been using them in the UK for many many years. We also use things like street signs and other "street furniture" to disguise the cell towers.

This seems to come up as a news story every year or two for some reason. There's been one of these in the neighborhood my parents live in for 7 years now. When you look at a picture of one, no, it doesn't look like a tree. But if it's in the distance and among other trees, they are actually quite easy to miss. You'd have to be looking for it to notice it, though they do stick up higher than the other trees. Seems pretty clever to me.